Venetian blind



May 13, 1947. R. CUSUMANO 2,420,301

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Nov. 20, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. Rudow/1Cusumano .BY Mgg m A T7' ORNE Y Patented May 13, 1947 UNITED STATESPATENT oFElcE VENETIAN BLIND Rudolph Cusumano, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 20, 1944, Serial No. 564,231

4 Claims. (Cl. 160-34) My invention relates to Venetian blinds of thetype well known as including a plurality of spaced slats supported inspaced relation by ladder tapes, the slats being raised and lowered bycables or cords. In all such blinds, the slats are held in any raised orlowered position by fastening the raising or lowering cord or cable on asuitable anchoring device usually attached to a window or door jamb orother structural part of a building. The objections to this necessity ofmanipulation are many, and chiey the time and trouble involved inloosening the raising and lowering cord or cable from its anchorage,operating the cord to eiect the elevation or descent of the slats andthe wear and tear on the operating medium.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a Venetian blind inwhich the slats thereof maybe raised and lowered manually, Without theuse of cords or cables and in which the slats may be retained in anyadjusted position, Without locks or supplemental anchorage.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a Venetian blind, ameans for counter-balancing the Weight of the blind in any raised orlowered position.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a Venetian blind aspring mechanism, providing tension by which the blind is heldcounterbalanced in any position between the limits of its movement andan adjustment by which such tension in the spring may be variedaccording to the weight of the blind.

My invention also has for its objects to pro'- vide such means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a Workingposition and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture,relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangement of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. However, the drawings merelyshow, and the following description merely describes embodiments of theinvention which are given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference numerals designate similar parts in theseveral views.

Fig. l is an elevational view, partly in section of a device embodyingmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of a modied form of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the suspension meansfor the slats and Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

In a general sense, the invention comprises a Venetian blind of usualstructure, suitably suspended, as from the upper jamb of a door or awindow or other opening, or from a housing that may be attached to theframe Work of a window or door. The slats are operable to raised orlowered position by rotatable or oscillatable means, to Which cables orcords are connected, and the rotatable means is under tension andfurnished with means by which the tension may be regulated and adjustedin accordance With the Weight of the blind in any position oi itsmovement, so that the blind, when manually raised or lowered, willremain in such position without further aid.

In a specific sense, the invention is shown as comprising a casing orenclosure I0, open at the tcp. The enclosure which may be a structuralpart of a building, is provided with bottom openings, around which arepositioned guide members or eyes II, secured to the floor I2 of theenclosure I0. Wire ropes or cables I3, secured to the bottom rail I4,Fig. 6, of the blind I5, pass through said guide members or eyes II andover pulleys I6, hung from the under side of cross bars I1, connectingthe top of the sides of the enclosure. The ends of said wire ropes orcables I3, are secured to opposite sides of and in a cylindrical grooveI8, that forms a part of a cone member I9, hereinafter more speciallyreferred to. The Wire ropes or cables I3, pass through openings in theslats I2 0, of the blind I5, which comprises said slatsv 20, laddertapes ZI, for supporting said slats 20 in spaced relation, and a bottomrail I4, to which the wire ropes or cables I 3 are attached in anyconvenient manner, whereby the rail I4 and consequently a portion of theslats 20 or all of them are held in raised or lowered position by themeans detailed later herein. The tapes 2I, supporting the slats 20, aresecured at the top to cylindrical carriers or elements 23, that aremounted or fixed upon a common shaft 24, at spaced points thereon. Theshaft 24 operates in-bearings 25, and one end thereof is provided with agear 25, in mesh with a worm 21, on a shaft 28, in and extending beyondthe enclosure or housing I0. The extended end of said shaft 28, mounts agrooved pulley 29, or other means, over which extends preferably anendless line, or rope 30, which is operable by pulling on one or theother of the parallel portions thereof to tilt the slats 20 in onedirection or another. The aforenamed cone member I9, which is journaledin a member I9 and in a bearing plate I9 is provided with a continuousspiral groove 3|, more clearly shown in Fig. 3, in which is arranged tothread an end portion of a block line 32, which is under tension, as ofa spring 33. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the other end of the blockline 32, is anchored as -suggestedat 34 and the intermediate portionof'the line or cable 32 passes over a pulley block connected to saidspring 33 and pulley block` 36 ixedly secured in said housing I0 inspaced relation to said block- 35. In this manner, theejtielri;A

sion of the spring is reilected in the cone member I9 through the blockline or cable 32;'-th'e cone member being rotated duringY themanualtionA oispeed inthe., elevation of 'the blind. aszit approaches its'topor uppermost position. Inr

drawing downthe blind, the blqclgline 32 rotates the'vconemember I9 inthelopposite directiQn,.as itunwindsrfrom the groovesSI, thereby.placing the4 sprite 33t-under. a progressively decreasing tension,`which, however, is at.V all timesproportionedv vequally `to the. Weightf @the blind. ,Thus

the Vblindmay be raised orlowered Yas desired, withl small, effort.vand, maintainedin Vadjusted position without any supplemental means..

The tensionlof the-spring .33, when .thesystem iscOnnected aseigplained, may. be, adjustedby anyy means; asa turnbllckle 3.1. Itisbelieved,y

Cl?. witfhllt further illustratisn. ,that .the Sim- Plfpflllsysofsbseres and 35....may .be mumerooved.OrothGrWSQQmDQunded.to ,exertgreater .force'or.allelhqlal Qf motion, of the .block lije? and the.CQne-bedrl 9...,

The lor in, Fig- 4, differsfmmitheierm here tofo'rfe described, intheemplQyment of. ator7 sional spring 40,' contained .arid hQllSQd inthe.. usual Ima'nneroa.conventionalspring typeloller L 511129211. .whichare. @flanged to, Wind the vWire rolg'iesfofrA cablesconneoted with.,the-bottom rail I 4;,"U,pon `'the shaft; is fixedlymounted an conemember")'If,v provided with an exterior continuousspiralgroove `,4Ii,.inand rfrom whichis adaptedto ivindorunwind a. cablev or, cord or otheriieiiibleA means', .41',- that is tpaidout lfrom.o r woundupori'said`ro1l,er4I,.against `or by thetension of thE .SPIing All, Theresult attained by zthis form isi,practicallyidentical with the resultIattained by the,deviceshowninFigs 1 and 2.` Invthis latter form where`the wires orv cables .carrying the bottom rail .I4 aremounted .tov,wind on and oithedru'ms 4.4, itis, possible tovmount or at-` tachythese Carrying wires to lthe outside ends-pt` bothrthe ,top and bottom.rails, as illustrated in Fig., 15a'lndthis arrangement leaves ,the slatsrofr of ythe, lo1in:l fre ertobe removed .from the ladders ,Y ortapelsyzl. Where thetop and bottom rail :of alle',blindy .are exposed,.andtlie'-l bottom,frail2 is,im

` means A.co1'ine-cted,-viith Asaid rail vto opposite sides used to liftthe blind, as it must be in the present instance, it is desirable tocoat, cover or encase the wood or metal rail in a soil-proof material orin one from which stains, dirt and marks are easily removed. Such acover, coat or case may be a plastic, as suggested at 48, in Fig. 6.Obviously, the lower rail I4 may be composed of plastic material. Theupper rail 49, where exposed, as shown in Fig. 5, may constitute a tiltrail for tilting .the slats forwardly orrearwardly by any means.

It is believed clear without further illustration, lthat in this latterform of the invention, shown n,-I}`i g, 4, the bottom rail and theoperating wires or cables may be housed to slide in Window or vdoorjambs, and-thus be invisible; also the tilting mechanism.heretoforereferred to, may likewise behoused and only the operating memberextenddin. convenient access to or reach of the operator.

Whilel :have .illustrated .and described what I nowfregardas thepreferred:embodimentfof my irrvszintion,` theQnstruQtimis. 0I course.Subject., tomodieatonswithout.departing from the spirit.

assistere of my. invention.. I. therefore do not wishto,restrictmyself.tothe particular form, .0.,f

coristrlitinillustrated.- and.; describe@ but d@-` sireto.availfmyselffof allymodifications that. may fell, .Withintlie Scene.of the appended-,Claims- Haring.. thus des-Qribemmy invention., what I.desire .to Secure. byLettsrsPatent lof. the United.

casing; a shaft journaled in saidcasing, spacedA cylindrical membersiixed Von said shaft Ato .supp01*@ 4Said tapes: a Gone-shaped msm-berrotatably mounted in saidecasing yand -having acylindrical el'OQye. anda, continuous, spiral groove; flexible.

of said cylindrical groove; a ,spring fastened yat oneendftosaidgcasing;andacable connected to andtensioned .by said spring, said cableyconnected toA and operable fin, the ,spiral groove, of said member toregulate the tensionfofsaid spring in agzcorrla-nc with the .weight of-the lblindand means :to 1oscillate said shaft to cause thecylindricalmembers thereon to vary the angle .,ofsaid 2.-,*In la,IVenetian .blind including a plurality of slats; ladderV tapes upon-`which said.slats.ar,e supported and a bottom rail; Vthel.combination ofa. cas,ing, yashaftjournaled in'l said casing and prolldedWthcylindricalmembers to supportcsaid tapes, la kgeaiyoriysaid (shaft,lmeanslengaging said geararld(manually` operable to oscillate saidshaftand :tilt said'slats, Vafspirally groovedconefshaped bodyjournaledgcentrallyiinsaidasing having a cylindrical. portionprovidedwith agroove, exiblefmeans connecting saidrail; andicylindrical groove,meansA .to cause said :bodyto .oscillate vas thefblind ,'is Araised .and.'loweredi'to wind said Iilexiblemeans onzandoff the spiralgrooye:including asprngxed ateone :endfto and inisaid casing, ablocli at theother fend orsaid'springfa sheave block xed in said casing, aline-tensionedfby said-,spring and threaded; over ,said blocks said linehaving one endxed V,to=..and;in saidcasing and-the other ,end anchoredt0-said body insaid spiral groove, thereby tto goausefsaid .line to windfrom and into said spiral.groove` rastheblind 'is raisedor .lowered landVto .regulate the line.pul1

on said spring in accordance with the weightoi the blind, and means toadjust the tension of said spring.

3. In a Venetian blind including a plurality of slats, ladder tapes uponwhich said slats are supported and a bottom rail; the combination of acasing, a horizontal shaft journaled in said casing and provided withcylindrical means to support said tapes, a gear on one end of saidshaft, a transversely disposed shaft journaled in and extending beyondsaid casing and provided with a Worm in engagement With said gear, apulley on the end of said transverse shaft, exible means carried by saidtransverse shaft-pulley to tilt said slats, a single spirally groovedconoidal body journaled in said casing and provided With a cylindricalgroove, exible means connecting said rail to said cylindrical groove, aspring fixed at one end to and in said casing, a block at the other endof said spring, a block xed in said casing, a line tensioned by saidspring and threaded over said blocks, said line having one end i'lXed toand in said casing and the other end anchored to and in said spiralgroove, thereby to regulate the line pull of said spring as the blind israised and lowered, and an adjustment means in said casing forregulating the tension of said spring.

4. In a Venetian blind including a plurality of slats; ladder tapes uponwhich said slats are supported and a bottom rail; the combination of acasing, a shaft journaled in said casing, spaced cylindrical members xedon said shaft to support said tapes, a single conoidal body journaled insaid casing having a cyilndrical portion provided with a groove and acontinuous spiral groove, pulleys in said casing in line with said tapesand with the cylindrical groove of said body, flexible means threadingover said pulleys and connecting said rail to opposite sides of saidgroove on the cylindrical portion, means to cause said conoidal body tooscillate and to alternately Wind said flexible means on and 01T saidcylindrical groove as the blind is raised and lowered, comprising a lineattached to said body in said spiral groove, a horizontal spring,anchored at one end toand in said casing and at the other end connectedto said line to maintain said line in tension,.said spiral grooveautomatically adjusting the tension 0f said spring to the weight of theblind, means to regulate the tension of said spring, and independentmanual means for operating said shaft to adjust the angle of said slatsindependently of said exible means.

RUDOLPH CUSUMANO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 13,251 Bixler July 17, 18552,328,305 De Stefano Aug. 31, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date10,177 Great Britain July 13, 1888

